SOME further successful stud ram sales have been held over the past week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Geoff and Robyn Rayner's Pomanara Stud at Sallys Flat gained a solid clearance of 23 superfine rams, a top price of $2200, three rams at $2100 and an average of $1282.
Return buyers are a feature of this annual sale and the reputation of the bloodline has been earned over many decades.
And Greg and Christine Healey report a very sound sale of 52 poll Dorset rams on-property at their Mount Bathurst stud, Black Springs last Thursday.
The sale topped at $1750 and averaged $1080. The Healeys have acquired a strong following with particular strength from the Bombala area.
Words of wisdom
SALE catalogues are usually a list of bloodline sires and details of breeding values of sale animals, but they also included a few words of wisdom this season:
- In the Blink Bonnie booklet: Life is a great journey; the most important thing is the people you go through it with.
- From the Winyar catalogue: Good sheep are expensive but they are a lot cheaper than bad sheep.
Question of privacy
WHILE we're talking stud auctions, suggestions have been made that buyers' names may not be called in future as their privacy should be protected.
This would take most of the interest away from sale spectators and I hope that the change won't happen.
Post-COVID revival
WHEN we take time to consider the post-COVID revival in Australia's economy, perhaps we should look at a two-day first cross ewe auction at Naracoorte, SA.
On November 12 and 19, 53,000 young ewes will be auctioned interfaced with Stocklive, every sheep Gudair vaccinated, most mulesed and ready to join.
These ewes should top $450 for the very best and average possibly $350 per head.
If we stop and think, we'll get three ewes for $1000 and the two-day sale may gross $19 million. Buyers should make sure that their bank manager is seated before they tell him of their plans.
Agriculture will have its problems with exports to China and staff that are hard to find but prospects for a big harvest and a great grazing season will keep farmers hopes up high as we head towards Christmas and New Year.
A cleaner future
PERHAPS we've seen the worst of COVID-19 and I think for the future:
- Hand sanitiser pumps may be around us forever.
- Shaking hands may never return for some.
- Social distancing is obvious and might become permanent.
- A lot of churchgoers have given up attending and contributing to finances. Just who will be paying church expenses in future years (and today)?
LLS pest training
LOCAL Land Services should be on a winner with its vertebrate pest induction training courses now available online.
Accreditation to acquire and use 1080, Pindone and associated chemical products on your own property is free with no waiting time and lasts for five years.
Details at www.lls.nsw.gov.au/VPIT or phone 1300 795 299.
Raining champion
WE found the following included in the Rural Notebook published on January 15 this year: "Among all the gloomy seasonal predictions for January to Easter 2020, we read a forecast for excellent rain across much of NSW, with widespread falls starting on January 17.
"Former Bathurst grazier and grain harvesting contractor Kevin Sinclair has lived in Dubbo for many years and is now retired.
"He and his father Bill Sinclair operated their property at The Lagoon and bred cattle and Merino wool cutters.
"Kevin's forecasts are based on his long term rainfall charts and we hope he is correct."
Kevin was certainly correct and he made his prediction when several Bathurst locals had selected a date for the last water to be drawn from Chifley Dam.
In a similar vein, on January 22 the Bathurst Branch of NSW Farmers hosted an address by Dr. Robert Baker from the University of New England in Armidale on "The Nature of drought in Australia/Bathurst".
Rural Notebook commented that "Dr Baker thinks that this drought was predictable and he will discuss his belief in the connection between solar cycles, sunspot activity and weather cycles on Earth".
Both Dr Baker and Kevin Sinclair have full dams, lush pastures and overflowing rain gauges to support their theories.
People have spoken
THE US election has been decided and Democrat Joe Biden is preparing to become the new president.
I think President Trump would be wise to accept a narrow defeat and be gracious as he concedes. This country must not descend to anarchy that benefits no one and Mr Biden will need a steady hand at the controls.
Australians should be proud of our citizens who don't make much fuss over political debates and many of our lifelong friends have different political opinions.
Most of our local meetings have spirited debates at times, but mature councillors know that "what happens on the field stays on the field".
Wool report
THE wool market had another turbulent week, rising sharply on the first day of selling and then losing nearly half the gain on the second.
However, the Northern Market Indicator still finished 55c/kg higher than the previous week to settle on 1245c/kg.
All Merino types gained around 70c/kg while the crossbred wools gained around 35c/kg.
Despite its volatility, the market it is slowly moving in an upward direction.
All Merino wools are around 300c/kg higher than at the start of the new wool year back in July and crossbred wools are around 150c/kg higher in the same period.
We will continue to see this volatility in the market with so much wool being held back and then being brought onto the market after a rise.
Next week will see 41,969 bales on offer nationwide.
Mark Horsburgh, Nutrien Wool
Mum's the word
SOME thoughts about our mothers:
- Age 4: Mum knows everything
- Age 8: Mum knows a lot.
- Age 12: Mum doesn't know everything.
- Age 14: Mum doesn't know anything.
- Age 16: Mum doesn't exist.
- Age 18: She's a fossil.
- Age 25: Perhaps mum might know about this.
- Age 35: Before we decide, let's ask mum.
- Age 45: I wonder what mum would think about this?
- Age 75: I wish I could ask mum about this.
Please read this slowly and remember the last line. Mothers are the backbone of most farming families.
A mixed-up world
A FEW anagrams to remember (just rearrange the letters):
Presbyterian: Best in prayer.
The eyes: They see.
Dormitory: Dirty room.
Slot machine: Cash lost in me.
Election results: Lies, lets recount.
Mother in law: Woman Hitler.
Laugh lines
GEORGE had passed on and the vicar and three family members had read eulogies on his pure life, his many virtues, hate of gambling and drinking and love of his tired wife and family.
His wife checked the details in the funeral booklet and told the vicar: "I'm just checking that I've come to the right funeral."